An Arkansas State Police Special Agent suffered a broken leg during a foot pursuit of a parolee from Independence County.
According to reports officers from the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police, Batesville Police Department, and Independence County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisting with a home visit by Arkansas Community Corrections at a residence of Rodney Monroe Lee age 41.
When they arrived at the residence officers immediately came into contact with Lee in his driveway. The report states that Arkansas State Police Special Agent Greg Tebbetts began to search Lee’s pants pockets and located a pill bottle in one of Lee’s pockets that contained a plastic baggie of methamphetamine. Lee pushed away from the special agent and began running on foot towards the woods. Tebbetts and Batesville Police began pursuing Lee. When Lee ran down a hill near the wood line, Officers followed in pursuit but the ASP Agent fell going down the incline, severely injuring his leg. After checking on Tebbetts, Sallas ran after Lee who was captured.
The injured ASP Agent was transported to the White River Medical Center where he was admitted to prepare for surgery on his broken leg.
A camouflage bag found in the front yard contained multiple plastic bags, each containing a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine along with scales.
Lee admitted the bag belonged to him. He was then taken to the Independence County Detention Center.
Lee is facing four felony counts: possession of meth with the purpose to deliver; possession of drug paraphernalia with the purpose to inject, ingest, or inhale meth; possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing on foot, which resulted in serious physical injury to a law enforcement officer. If he is convicted, Lee will be sentenced as a habitual offender under Arkansas State Law. He is being held on a $100,000 bond